Comb-cleaner.



PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

L. CASPER.

COMB CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21 1903.

N0 MODEL.

- nl/eralin r; M L

UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

LOUIS CASPER, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMB-CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 765,700, dated J 151 26, 1904.

Application filed March 21, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS CASPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Comb-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding letters of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a comb-cleaner which may be detachably connected with a comb in such away'that it may be permitted to remain permanently thereon without interfering with the use of the comb or detracting from its appearance.

A further object is to so construct said device that it may not only adapt itself to the irregular spacing of the c0mbteeth, but will as a result of the compression of the resilient material used cause the stiffening-rims to press or fold against the sides of the comb-head, all of which is hereinafter more particularly described, and definitely pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a comb having attached thereto a comb-cleaner embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a comb-cleaner as it would appear when detached. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken upon the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken upon the line 4 4, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position of the cleaner as it would appear when pressed downwardly to remove accumulations from the comb-teeth.

Referring to the drawings, A designates generally my improved comb-cleaning device, which consists of a longitudinal web B, provided with a series of small apertures or perforations b, spaced to conform, respectively, to the relative positions of the teeth 0 of the comb, (designated generally by C,) said teeth being inserted through said perforations. The web B is made of soft rubber or other similar elastic and flexible material, and the perforations are of much smaller area than the crosssectional area of the teeth, while the thickness of the web is such that when the cleaner Serial No. 148,888. (No model.)

is forced upon the comb in its normal position against the head, as shown in Fig. 1, the rubber web will be compressed, so as to cause the outer edges to curl or bend upwardly and be held with a resilient pressure against the sides of the comb-head, as shown in Figs. L and 5.

In order to stiffen the edges of the elastic web, I prefer to employ metallic rims b',which may be clamped or compressed thereon, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4:, inclusive, and which enable the cleaner to be readily moved up and down upon the teeth of the comb for removing the accumulations thereon.

The operation of said device is as follows: The ends of the teeth being inserted through the small perforations b, the rims upon the opposite side of the web are grasped by the thumbs and fingers of the user and pressed against the head of the comb. The expansion of the relatively small perforations upon the teeth cause that portion of the rubber web to be compressed, so that in practice the rims are caused to press with a yielding pressure,

and thereby to maintain their respective positions against the sides of the comb, so as to occupy but little space, and that without detracting from the appearance of the comb. Moreover, the compression of the elastic web caused by its transverse bending, as described, serves to exert an increased elastic pressure upon the comb-teeth when moved thereon, thereby rendering it more effectual in use.

In the drawings it has been necessary to magnify the thickness of the metal rims in order to clearly show the construction; but I have found in practice that said rims may be made much thinner than said drawings would indicate.

In cleaning the comb the teeth are permitted to rest upon a flat surface, and while in a substantially vertical position the cleaner is pushed down to the ends, as indicated in Fig. 5, thereby removing all adhering matter.

I am aware that a comb-cleaner has been made consisting of a perforated metal bar having a correspondingly-perforated rubbing material upon one side. I am also aware that a perforated metal plate has been used without the rubbing material; but such constructions can only be applied to combs to which they are especially fitted and obviously would need to be made with unusual care. I make no glaim to such constructions or'either of them;

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As an improved article of manufacture, a comb-cleaner comprising a Web of elastic material having perforations therein corresponding in position to, but smaller than the crosssectional area ofthe comb-teeth, and parallel metallic stiffening-rims upon the edges of said I Web, .Whereby said Web may be caused to bend transversely to enable the compression of the material, as a result of said bending, to exercise an increased elastic pressure upon the comb-teeth. Signed at Chicago, Illinois, on this 19th day of March, A. D. 1903.

LOUIS CASPER. In presence of- J..J. OBRIEN, JOSEPH GUERIN. 

